We must pay back the fans! Arsenal flops determined to restore credibility after embarrassing Milan drubbing

Thomas Vermaelen insists Arsenal owe their fans after the humiliating Champions League thrashing against AC Milan.

The Gunners were taught a painful lesson in Italy as the Serie A champions romped to a 4-0 victory.

But Belgian defender Vermaelen is confident his side can repair some of the damage in the second leg.

Beaten out of sight: Arsenal were thrashed by AC Milan on Wednesday day

'It’s difficult to give an explanation for what happened so soon after the game this evening because I’m quite disappointed by what happened,' he said.

'It was a really bad result. The only thing we can do is remember that we've still got another game to go. Now we have to show some pride and give 100 per cent in the return leg. We have to give something back to all those Arsenal fans who came all the way out here to this stadium, here in Milan, only for us to disappoint them.

'We must think of them now because what happened was not good. The only thing we can do is give them a good result in the home game.'

Midfielder Mikel Arteta is refusing to throw in the towel despite history being against Arsenal as no team has ever come back from such a first-leg deficit.

He said: 'Never say never in footbal. If we score two goals in the first half at the Emirates then it is game on. But it will be very difficult to get through and we all know that.'

Vermaelen believes the best thing Arsenal can do is forget the Milan game and focus on Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Tough task: Thomas Vermaelen (left) struggled to keep Robinho quiet

'When you are a professional you put the bad things that happen behind you,' he added.

'We will have to learn our lessons from what happened tonight but it is important at times like this to remain mentally strong and focus on the next game.'

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny meanwhile heaped praise on AC Milan but is determined to come out fighting in the return tie.

‘We didn’t have the best of games but you have to give credit to them,’ said the Pole.

‘They
punished us on every occasion and scored some quality goals. It’s a
very disappointing day for us and hopefully we can pick ourselves up and
challenge them in the second leg.

Brought to their knees: Arsenal face an near impossible task to qualify

'We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions.’

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was in no mood to pull his punches following his side's collapse.

'It was a shocking result and a shocking performance,' he ranted. 'It's a night never to forget. It was our worst night in Europe. We made mistake after mistake and were punished, and deservedly so.

'We were never in the game. We were very poor offensively and defensively. It was shocking to see. Not one moment in the 90 minutes were we really in the game.

'We had to chase the game and open our game up and we were caught by balls over the top. It's difficult to analyse. It's better not to talk too much, to analyse with a cooler head and regroup.'